New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-16
NEEDS OF THE ARMY.
PNEUMATIC GUNS FOR COAST DEFENCE.
MAD BY G. NERAL SHERIDAN

RECOMMENDATIONS MAD HY G NERAL SHERIDAN
IN HIS ANNUAL EEPO T.
WAsuiSGroN, Nov b. ieu,enea;- General T. III.
fherdsn has pres"o his annual report TO the secre-
tsry VAR From Tie rcpo, it appears that 1T the date
of the last consolidated returns the Army consisted OF
1900 officers and ~, $50 men. inclIing Indian scouts
The General renews his previous recommendations
touching the increase OF the Army by 5000 men and
pcrfcctng the anzaou OF the infantry arm by the
addition Of two majors aud two companies to each reg
ment.
Relative 10 the revision Of tactics it SAID
advance the material has also occasiohed vital
changes in the Of Hing men In action am
our TACTICS therefore are no longer well adapted to the
present conditions For these reasons IL Is my intention
10 assemble early day board or officers 10 con
sidor the subject aud prepare or recommend such
rcyisons Of tactics will place them more COM
pl.tey in harmony with the advaneen methods OF con-
Quoting war"
matter Of improved small arms. aud 'ehera Sheru"h
,ays 1.-The Springfield rife still remains inc weapon OF
our service and IT is undoubtedly very GOO oEe In
INV OPINION however. the magazine gun must hc the
trm of the future Fit is not possible 20 avlse ~ a
tIsas now accepted abroad it would be better TO adopt
the best OF tier weapons ra. u =, ~. u, - ~
our pTssn', .,n S.,s loader '"S'''0
% M occt of coast de'ences the Leut,nantGcn-
eral saws 1.-The condition OF our seacoasi defcnces has
continued dccriordte during the year. and the major
ty OF them regards the material or which they
arc built, their location and present armament womb
noye OF little real service tine of foreign war
Strong Jortifcaons and heavy guns require
several years and large expenditure OF money
cOnSruc ion AMI while undOubte v necc sSaiy
for thorough defence. worthy of care
ul consideration that prom 10 secure quickly and al
moderate cost weapons always Valuable as auxiliary
means of defence hni which, in the absence OF more
complete system, mi-h yet lie utilized with good ELECT
Pneumatic throwing large charges of high expo
sives are comparatively inexpensive and
operate and reever appear from rcce cxpcil rents
produce Within the limit of their conclusive
results believe the efforts in this direction SHOULD 10
encouraged il is possible predict what ;her n
issue AZ "A 81
made seems very probable aud an Increased range and
greater Explosive effect can fairly be anticipated
rho General concludes his report as follows:
am strongly n favor OF the General Governmrm,
different states They should he arinci with the best
weapons, amply pro- with complete camp and garrl
son cquipage. and in tru tel In the various drs IN
exercises according t. tue tactics and systems foowed
IN the Regular Army
CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON. NOV. 15.-Coinmoiorc I. d. wilson chief
Of the Construction and Repair OF the Navy
Department. has submitted his annual report 10
the Secretary oil the Navy. In view of the addition
al duties dcvoving upon the Bureau N connection
with the csisning and building Of now vessels, he
asks that an Assistant Chief of the BnIrau he au-
ihorHcd by law. He cucwS his recommendation
That two new vessels, of 1000 tons each. lie built
to re, lace the training ships Saratoga, jamestown
and Fort smouth which cannot POSSIBLY be kept in
service much longer: and he asks that special an-
thoray be gwen for the repair of the historic sloop-
of-yar Hart. ord at cost of $1,000
Appealed to the report Is tabulatcd s'atcmeh.
of the estimates of a preparations lot inc "'N Hs'"
year Under the head of salaries, s14.GeO Is ak q
lar sooouJo + the estimate Tor the construction ana
repair OF Nc--cs S24.6i1 nor tie civil e>iablS hhiol
al Navy Yarls $4,000 for extra tools al Inc
Marc Island Navy Yari; 100000 for tn cons.fuo1 g.
49, at the w-Yorl Navy Yard and Sj,OOo,oOo ON
account of hu- and outfits of new ships